Heron Attack!!

[TC]

I thought that I had figured out a way to discourage the heron from
visiting. I put up a fake heron. I put in a duck. I stretched fishing line
over the top of the pond and around the pond.
The heron came straight down from a nearby tree and landed next to the pond.
Then stepped through the fishing line to the pond.
So I put an electric fence around the pond with 4 wires. It came down and
stepped through the fence. It jumped a bit but didn't stop.
So I put 2 more wires on the fence. The heron came down and landed inside
the fence. The fence is about 3 feet from the pond with shrubs and rocks.
So I moved the fence right to the pond edge inside the shrubs etc. We'll see
what happens now.
The heron just came back. Both of us were in the yard by the pond with two
dogs there. It swooped over and landed on the roof of the house.
Each time it got into the pond I raced out and clapped my hands to scare it
off. It just moved off to a nearby tree or roof and waited.
It seemed to watch what I was doing.
I thought it needed a large flight path to land. I know now that it does
not. It came down almost vertically.
There seems to be a pair of them. I don't know if it is the same one each
time.
Anyone got anymore hints. Apart from getting ride of my fish. Not that I
have many left.

[mad]

can you stretch electrified wires across the top of the pond? just an idea
and don't know if that would work or not.
mad
--
"Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the
Titanic who waved off the dessert cart."
Erma Bombeck

> From: "TC" >
> Newsgroups: rec.ponds
> Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2003 02:29:24 GMT
> Subject: Heron Attack!!
>
> I thought that I had figured out a way to discourage the heron from
> visiting. I put up a fake heron. I put in a duck. I stretched fishing line
> over the top of the pond and around the pond.
> The heron came straight down from a nearby tree and landed next to the pond.
> Then stepped through the fishing line to the pond.
> So I put an electric fence around the pond with 4 wires. It came down and
> stepped through the fence. It jumped a bit but didn't stop.
> So I put 2 more wires on the fence. The heron came down and landed inside
> the fence. The fence is about 3 feet from the pond with shrubs and rocks.
> So I moved the fence right to the pond edge inside the shrubs etc. We'll see
> what happens now.
> The heron just came back. Both of us were in the yard by the pond with two
> dogs there. It swooped over and landed on the roof of the house.
> Each time it got into the pond I raced out and clapped my hands to scare it
> off. It just moved off to a nearby tree or roof and waited.
> It seemed to watch what I was doing.
> I thought it needed a large flight path to land. I know now that it does
> not. It came down almost vertically.
> There seems to be a pair of them. I don't know if it is the same one each
> time.
> Anyone got anymore hints. Apart from getting ride of my fish. Not that I
> have many left.
>
>



-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

[K30a]

This is the long version of the heron hints.
Maybe there is something in here to help that you
haven't tried yet.
A long time ago one rec.ponder got the fish and game guys to come out to his
father's pond to dispatch a heron. They are the ONLY people who can do this
legally. Give them a call before you give up.
Good luck and let us know what happens.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~

So far the most effective heron foilers for rec.ponders are
1) An electric fence, try the Fido Fence sold at large pet superstores. In
current pond magazines I've noticed that the FIshock folks have come up with a
fence that lays out over the water.
http://www.fishock.com/
Fi-Shock inc.
5360 N. National Drive
Knoxville, TN 37914-6695

2) Fishing wire strung around the pond a few inches off the ground to causing
the heron frustration on where to put his feet.
3) A plastic fish, called a heron scarer, anchored on the bottom and floating
below the surface, the heron grabs for it and is scared when the fish fights
back. It also gives the resident fish time to hide.
4) Dogs who spend their daylight hours outside - only problem is black capped
night herons will feed in the middle of the night. When the dogs did the Full
Dog Alert at our house the heron waited until I opened the deck slider before
he took off.
5) Call your local Fish and Wildlife office and sob over the phone and see what
they suggest. Do not attempt to kill, maim or harm a heron without official
permission. They are protected under the Migratory Bird Act. <A
HREF="http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/intrnltr/mbta/mbtandx.html">http://mig
ratorybirds.fws.gov/intrnltr/mbta/mbtandx.html</A>
click on the 'H' But just because they are protected as migratory birds don't
count on your heron migrating.... some herons maintain year round colonies.
5a) If you think shooting herons is the answer or you are just channeling your
inner redneck -- don't post your name and email address on the internet stating
that fact - a fish and wildlife agent can pay you a social call.
6) Netting the pond really, really, really well..... and realizing that some
herons (green heron) can wiggle under nets.
7) A Scarecrow motion detector sprinkler. Two units used in a '90 degree
crossfire' substantially improves overall efficiency
8) A heron decoy. Large plastic fake herons that trick the real heron into
thinking your pond is occupied. Possible problem is a heron's feeding territory
in times of abundant food is only a few yards wide. And juvenile herons like to
feed in groups. Think of teenagers going to the mall. And finally, a male heron
was once spotted courting a fake heron decoy with offerings of dead goldfish
and frogs from the heron decoy owner's pond.
9) Fake alligators. Can work unless you have a year round colony of herons that
never fly south and don't know an alligator from a lazy labrador. Fake
alligators have also been known give meter readers the heebie jeebies.
10) A floating plastic snake (same caution about the meter reader).
11) Paintball warfare .... hmmm, we are not sure on this one. If owning a
feather from a protected bird of prey is a crime then knocking one off a heron
may be frowned upon. So don't knock any feathers off your heron if you splat
him with paint...
12) Lay mouse traps around on the ground....upside down!!
13) From England "The time to stop them then is before they land. They have
such large wings that sudden stops or changes of direction are out of the
question, meaning, that if the obstacle is in the air, they are unable to fly
around it. Lengths of wire (or rot-proof strong string) stretched from roof
height on the house to a high point at the rear of the garden, completely over
the
pond. The wire should be about one metre from the adjacent piece."
14) From Thomas Seminazzi "I rigged up a "heron-scare" to deter him. I wired a
bathroom vent fan to a motion sensor, and set the sensor to TEST mode so it
would go off day ornight. A got a bundle of those colorful mylar streamers
little girls put on their bike handles and attached them to the output of the
fan. The fan is hidden under my deck, but if something trips the sensor, the
streamers start
flapping all over the place...like an anemone reaching out for prey."
15) A recent addition: feed your fish sinking food and they won't be
conditioned to come to the
surface when something blurry shows up at the edge of the pond.
16) Steve connected a motion detector to a 24 volt fire alarm strobe light
using
a 24 volt transformer and set the motion detector on "TEST" so it will
work day or night.

Rec.ponders do not recommend
1) Driving your SUV through the rock garden after arriving home to find the
heron in the pond in order to scare him off.
2) Hiding in the bushes, grabbing the heron by the neck and ending up getting
lots of stitches in the ER.
3) Leaping out of the shower and running into the backyard, naked, screaming at
the heron.
4) Dropping on all fours and barking like a dog at a particularly aggressive
heron.
5) Attempting to shoot the heron, lasso the heron, skewer the heron, verbally
abuse the heron, make fun of the heron or ruffle the heron's feathers in any
manner. Refer to the Migratory Bird Act - fines and jail stays cut in on pond
dollars and pond time.

[The above suggestions have actually happened and were responsible in removing
the heron for a period of time. Rec.ponders find them lacking in dignity and
therefore do not recommend them. We must remain dignified, if only to keep our
spouses from having us committed.]



k30a
and the watergardening labradors
http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[TC]

I don't think that would help. One thing that I was told and seems to be the
case is that herons are wading birds and that they do not land on water.
Nothing over the top of the pond would help if that is indeed the case. I
also would not like to put anything in that would put the fish at risk. If a
wire came down...
I heard that one commercial ponder finally fenced his pond. Presumably the
fence was right on the edge of the pond. Apparently it solved his problem.
I only used an electric fence because I already had it and it is easier to
move. Which I needed to do.
I have heard some fokes have put netting over the pond. That maybe a last
option for me. I think the netting would have to be high enough to prevent
the heron from reaching through the mesh. Of couse if the mesh was small
enough it would not be able to. And it would not be able to get the fish out
anyway. So maybe that is the way to go.

"mad" > wrote in message
...
> can you stretch electrified wires across the top of the pond? just an idea
> and don't know if that would work or not.
> mad
- 19 Different Servers! =-----

[K30a]

Unfortunately determined herons will land in the water and paddle around like a
duck. Not a very good version of a duck but that doesn't seem to bother them...

k30a
and the watergardening labradors
http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[mad]

--
See my zone 8B pond:
http://community.webshots.com/album/14478479WdPMkPBPmt
http://community.webshots.com/album/40739268OAqLln
Rec.ponds FAQ: http://www.geocities.com/justinm090/faq.html
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein... Prov 26:27

> From: "TC" >
> Newsgroups: rec.ponds
> Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2003 02:50:46 GMT
> Subject: Re: Heron Attack!!
>
> I don't think that would help. One thing that I was told and seems to be the
> case is that herons are wading birds and that they do not land on water.
> Nothing over the top of the pond would help if that is indeed the case. I
> also would not like to put anything in that would put the fish at risk. If a
> wire came down...

you are right, of course. i didn't think of that

> I heard that one commercial ponder finally fenced his pond. Presumably the
> fence was right on the edge of the pond. Apparently it solved his problem.
> I only used an electric fence because I already had it and it is easier to
> move. Which I needed to do.
> I have heard some fokes have put netting over the pond. That maybe a last
> option for me. I think the netting would have to be high enough to prevent
> the heron from reaching through the mesh. Of couse if the mesh was small
> enough it would not be able to. And it would not be able to get the fish out
> anyway. So maybe that is the way to go.
>
perhaps you can place the net over the electric fence posts (without the
power on, of course), if they're high enough? just trying to brainstorm a
little bit.
mad

> "mad" > wrote in message
> ...
>> can you stretch electrified wires across the top of the pond? just an idea
>> and don't know if that would work or not.
>> mad
> - 19 Different Servers! =-----
>
>



-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

[TC]

Oh Oh! I better get back out to the pond.
Thanks for all the help. I know a ponder in my area that gave up on fish
because of the herons. I hope to avoid that. A net seems to be the most
likely to suceed.
I've never seen any other herons on the west coast of Canada. The one
visitng us seems to be the blue heron. I gather the Black-crowned Night
Heron that comes at night would be more of a problem. Perhaps it has already
visited and I didn't see it.

"K30a" > wrote in message
...
>
> Unfortunately determined herons will land in the water and paddle around
like a
> duck. Not a very good version of a duck but that doesn't seem to bother
them...
>
> k30a
> and the watergardening labradors
> http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[FBCS]

Net it. That's the only thing that helped me. I lost almost fish all twice.
I doesn't look that bad, peace of mind is worth it. Joann
"TC" > wrote in message news:8ef1b.16159$K44.10203@edtnps84...
> I thought that I had figured out a way to discourage the heron from
> visiting. I put up a fake heron. I put in a duck. I stretched fishing line
> over the top of the pond and around the pond.
> The heron came straight down from a nearby tree and landed next to the
pond.
> Then stepped through the fishing line to the pond.
> So I put an electric fence around the pond with 4 wires. It came down and
> stepped through the fence. It jumped a bit but didn't stop.
> So I put 2 more wires on the fence. The heron came down and landed inside
> the fence. The fence is about 3 feet from the pond with shrubs and rocks.
> So I moved the fence right to the pond edge inside the shrubs etc. We'll
see
> what happens now.
> The heron just came back. Both of us were in the yard by the pond with two
> dogs there. It swooped over and landed on the roof of the house.
> Each time it got into the pond I raced out and clapped my hands to scare
it
> off. It just moved off to a nearby tree or roof and waited.
> It seemed to watch what I was doing.
> I thought it needed a large flight path to land. I know now that it does
> not. It came down almost vertically.
> There seems to be a pair of them. I don't know if it is the same one each
> time.
> Anyone got anymore hints. Apart from getting ride of my fish. Not that I
> have many left.
>
>

[Jim Humphries]

I say amen to the net too. They completely stop the herons. I have not
lost a fish to them in 4 years now. Also, the netting is not unsightly at
all.

--
Jim and Sara Humphries, Victoria, BC
"FBCS" > wrote in message
...
> Net it. That's the only thing that helped me. I lost almost fish all
twice.
> I doesn't look that bad, peace of mind is worth it. Joann
> "TC" > wrote in message news:8ef1b.16159$K44.10203@edtnps84...
> > I thought that I had figured out a way to discourage the heron from
> > visiting. I put up a fake heron. I put in a duck. I stretched fishing
line
> > over the top of the pond and around the pond.
> > The heron came straight down from a nearby tree and landed next to the
> pond.
> > Then stepped through the fishing line to the pond.
> > So I put an electric fence around the pond with 4 wires. It came down
and
> > stepped through the fence. It jumped a bit but didn't stop.
> > So I put 2 more wires on the fence. The heron came down and landed
inside
> > the fence. The fence is about 3 feet from the pond with shrubs and
rocks.
> > So I moved the fence right to the pond edge inside the shrubs etc. We'll
> see
> > what happens now.
> > The heron just came back. Both of us were in the yard by the pond with
two
> > dogs there. It swooped over and landed on the roof of the house.
> > Each time it got into the pond I raced out and clapped my hands to scare
> it
> > off. It just moved off to a nearby tree or roof and waited.
> > It seemed to watch what I was doing.
> > I thought it needed a large flight path to land. I know now that it does
> > not. It came down almost vertically.
> > There seems to be a pair of them. I don't know if it is the same one
each
> > time.
> > Anyone got anymore hints. Apart from getting ride of my fish. Not that I
> > have many left.
> >
> >
>
>

[Axolotl]

"TC" > wrote in news:8ef1b.16159$K44.10203@edtnps84:

> Anyone got anymore hints. Apart from getting ride of my fish. Not that
> I have many left.
>
>
Net it. I have not found anything else that works. I used the very small
mesh net that is sold to protect fruit trees. depeding on how you do it it
doesn't look too bad.

[Neil Law]

On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 03:39:12 GMT, "FBCS" > wrote:

>Net it. That's the only thing that helped me. I lost almost fish all twice.
>I doesn't look that bad, peace of mind is worth it. Joann

I'd agree there. I've had the same heron last year and this - starts coming by
the same time each year.

Last year I netted the whole pond. This year just the main center section which
has deterred him. The netting goes over the boulders on each side of my pond so
it stays out of the water.

I use a fine plastic netting sold to keep birds off of fruit trees (bought at
Home Hardware or Home Depot - very inexpensive). It's black and fine but does
the trick.

[BenignVanilla]

"TC" > wrote in message news:8ef1b.16159$K44.10203@edtnps84...
<snip>
> Anyone got anymore hints. Apart from getting ride of my fish. Not that I
> have many left.
<snip>

Paint.
Ball.
Gun.

BV.

[K30a]

Sam wrote >>Shoot it<<

Be aware that if you are caught it is
a major fine shooting a migratory bird
protected by federal treaty. The last
fine levied around here was $5000.
k30a
and the watergardening labradors
http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[Bob Montgomery]

TC wrote:

> Anyone got anymore hints. Apart from getting ride of my fish. Not that I
> have many left.

Perhaps you could look at this a different way. Raising herons
is way cooler than raising fish. Fish are 13 cents at Walmart.
Herons are nearly priceless. Keep tossing feeder goldfish into
your pond and enjoy "your" birds.

The best wildlife in your pond is the stuff you didn't put there.

Bob Montgomery
Very amateur pond owner in Colorado

[Sam Hopkins]

Man there's all kinds of things in the world today that are illegal and we
break them all the time. You're not allowed to kill a raccoon or muskrat
either when it's not fur season but it happens all the time. If there's an
animal destroying your property kill it or catch it and relocate it. It's
more humane then wrapping fishing line around it or sending 50,000 volts
through it.

Sam

"K30a" > wrote in message
...
> Sam wrote >>Shoot it<<
>
> Be aware that if you are caught it is
> a major fine shooting a migratory bird
> protected by federal treaty. The last
> fine levied around here was $5000.
> k30a
> and the watergardening labradors
> http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[K30a]

Sam,
I'm going to take you to task on this....
before we start posting lethal solutions regarding herons (or any other
critter) on the net I think we need to warn people of the legalities. Right or
wrong, fair or unfair.
There was a fellow in the next town over, a police chief, who shot the heron
eating up the goldfish in the town's pond. He was fined $5000 and lost his job.
A major impact on this fellow's life and family. I just don't feel comfortable
letting your 'shoot them' posts go by without comment.
As for humane, you can't damage the bird in any way. Don't try to catch it, it
can severely damage you, and in one instant a heron drove his beak into a
naturalist's head and killed him. Stringing fishing line along the ground won't
wrap the bird up, electric shock fences shock, they don't kill. (been there,
done that several times, still alive)
Different states have different rules about mammals. Best to call them or local
animal control.
Many of the ornamental ponders who come here live in suburbs and you just
aren't allowed to blast away in your backyard.
Many pond keepers aren't up for killing an animal. There have to be other
options and the lethal ones can be dangerous, illegal and downright cruel. A
lot of us don't have the stomach for it.
If it comes to that I'd advise people to contact the professionals - fish and
game, animal control, licensed trappers.

Sam wrote
>>Man there's all kinds of things in the world today that are illegal and we
break them all the time. You're not allowed to kill a raccoon or muskrat
either when it's not fur season but it happens all the time. If there's an
animal destroying your property kill it or catch it and relocate it. It's
more humane then wrapping fishing line around it or sending 50,000 volts
through it.<<


k30a
and the watergardening labradors
http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[Sam Hopkins]

I was talking to my neighbor the other day. He told me he stuck out a trap
for a raccoon the other night. He said the next morning he found he had
caught a skunk. I laughed and said, "How'd you get him out, or did you make
your son do it?" He replied: "Oh I just shot it."

Now I agree that you shouldn't go around blowing up herons or geese because
one happens by. But if one is destroying your pond and your fish you have a
right to take him out. People will sit there and protect a heron yet take
their dog scruffy to the vet to be put down because they don't want him
anymore.

I think it's funny that people build ponds to be able to enjoy them and see
them and walk around them and yet when a heron starts destroying it they put
up electric fences and cover them with animal netting, put up water cannons,
etc because they are scared of the MBA.

Now I saw a post of about using a paintball gun. I think that's a great
idea. It probably won't kill the bird and you'll get some feeling of
"Justice" but it's still illegal - You cant maim them.

People think that herons are some "special" bird because it's protected by
the MBA. Here's a few more:

Barn-Owl
Black-Bird
Blue Bird
Blue Jay
Cardinal
CROW - HOW ABOUT THAT ONE
Dove
Ducks
Finch
Goose
Hawk
Humming Bird
Killdeer
Robin
SPARROW - WHAT THE HECK
BARN SWALLOW
TURKEY VULTURE
Wood Peckers

Crazy huh? Just shoot it - but don't get caught. =)

Sam

"K30a" > wrote in message
...
>
> Sam,
> I'm going to take you to task on this....
> before we start posting lethal solutions regarding herons (or any other
> critter) on the net I think we need to warn people of the legalities.
Right or
> wrong, fair or unfair.
> There was a fellow in the next town over, a police chief, who shot the
heron
> eating up the goldfish in the town's pond. He was fined $5000 and lost his
job.
> A major impact on this fellow's life and family. I just don't feel
comfortable
> letting your 'shoot them' posts go by without comment.
> As for humane, you can't damage the bird in any way. Don't try to catch
it, it
> can severely damage you, and in one instant a heron drove his beak into a
> naturalist's head and killed him. Stringing fishing line along the ground
won't
> wrap the bird up, electric shock fences shock, they don't kill. (been
there,
> done that several times, still alive)
> Different states have different rules about mammals. Best to call them or
local
> animal control.
> Many of the ornamental ponders who come here live in suburbs and you just
> aren't allowed to blast away in your backyard.
> Many pond keepers aren't up for killing an animal. There have to be other
> options and the lethal ones can be dangerous, illegal and downright cruel.
A
> lot of us don't have the stomach for it.
> If it comes to that I'd advise people to contact the professionals - fish
and
> game, animal control, licensed trappers.
>
> Sam wrote
> >>Man there's all kinds of things in the world today that are illegal and
we
> break them all the time. You're not allowed to kill a raccoon or muskrat
> either when it's not fur season but it happens all the time. If there's an
> animal destroying your property kill it or catch it and relocate it. It's
> more humane then wrapping fishing line around it or sending 50,000 volts
> through it.<<
>
>
> k30a
> and the watergardening labradors
> http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[joe]

K30a wrote:

> Bob wrote >>Keep tossing feeder goldfish into
> your pond and enjoy "your" birds.<<
>
> This was my plan if our heron came back.
> (Hard to see the *named* fish go, though.)


Yeah, that is our current plan. I miss the Koi though, there was something
about a fish swimming up to you knowing who you were (or, more likely,
knowing you meant food.) Oh well, my turtle does that now. I hope he's too
heavy for those damned birds.

Joe



-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

[K30a]

Sam wrote << He replied: "Oh I just shot it." >>

Sam, you've got to live out in the country.
Shoot the neighborhood skunk here and the police show up asap.

>>because they are scared of the MBA<<

What is a MBA?





k30a
and the watergardening labradors
http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[Theo van Daele]

> Shoot the neighborhood skunk here and the police show up asap.

I guess in some parts of the world even shooting the neighborhoud won't make
the police show up asap ;)

But to be serious: even if it were perfectly legal (which it is not, not in
Europe either BTW), what right do we have to kill those awesome birds ? Do
we only "love" our fish or are we in awe with "nature" ?

And yes, before you ask, most of my fish are named. But the more animals
you keep (and respect) the more strange it appears to kill another species,
just because they don't coincide with your plans.

Herons killing fish is "natural", us enjoying the presence of these
beautiful fish isn't. Finding a balance is key I think.

I really loved the half joke about tossing in feeder fish to keep herons,
very good, and so true in a way :-)

[K30a]

Jerrie wrote >>NO.......22 hollowpoint!!<<

(well, somebody has got to do this, I'll
take it on.)

Standard Rec.Ponds Caveat:
"It is unlawful, by any means or manner' to
take, capture or kill migratory birds".
Fines and jail time interfere with ponding.

(I'm going to post this everytime shooting a
heron is given as an alternative method of
control. It is wrong to lead innocent ponders
to think this is an option. If you don't like it,
sue me ;-)


k30a
and the watergardening labradors
http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[Critical Popperian]

> Anyone got anymore hints.

Turn your heron into a feature of your garden!

Do what I did/am doing. Move the pond near your house, build a roof
over
it and screen it in as part of a patio :)

No more problems! Since we've done this it's been nice because the
herons land
in the top ponds, they eat the minnows and frogs and we get to watch
them right in our backyard! I plan on keeping the top ponds stocked
with small fish for them all the time.

[Jerrispond]

>Standard Rec.Ponds Caveat:>"It is unlawful, by any means or manner' to
>take, capture or kill migratory birds".
>Fines and jail time interfere with ponding.
>>(I'm going to post this everytime shooting a >heron is given as an
alternative method of>control. It is wrong to lead innocent ponders>to think
this is an option. If you don't like it,>sue me ;-)
>

I think it is good for you to post that......this is a board of
opinions.....and after these years we have known each other you KNOW I will
not get mad at you Kathy.....besides you have to be a really good shot, cause
if you miss you will put a hole in the liner!! Love :o) Jerri

http://www.fringeweb.com/Ponds/JerrisPond

[K30a]

Love :o)
back at 'ya, Jerri ;-)

Holes in the liner also take up
too much pond time and
pond dollars.
Maybe we could get the bullfrogs
after the herons, instead of the
other way around.


k30a
and the watergardening labradors
http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[Anne Lurie]

Net the pond.

"TC" > wrote in message news:ayf1b.16355$K44.3898@edtnps84...
> I don't think that would help. One thing that I was told and seems to be
the
> case is that herons are wading birds and that they do not land on water.

Herons are indeed wading birds; they don't land on water, they land on
something solid & wade into the water.

> Nothing over the top of the pond would help if that is indeed the case.

Netting should help, because herons like something solid, like a deck --
not something "bouncy" like netting.

Anne Lurie
Raleigh, NC

[dkat]

knock on wood

We live near Long Island Sound and have quite a few herons in the area.
While kingfisher have successfully taken my fish, I have never been bothered
by the herons (that I know of) even though we have seen them in the tree
above the pond salivating. My pond is ~2.5' deep and has absolutely no
slope to the sides. I have plastic baskets (like milk crates rectangular
rather than square) which my plants sit on that have one edge raised up so
that fish are able to nest inside. It could be just luck that the herons
have not bothered my fish, that they have enough food locally that it isn't
worth their bother (except a friend near by who has sloping sides has lost
most of her fish), or it may be the characteristics of my pond that I just
described.

"TC" > wrote in message news:8ef1b.16159$K44.10203@edtnps84...
> I thought that I had figured out a way to discourage the heron from
> visiting. I put up a fake heron. I put in a duck. I stretched fishing line
> over the top of the pond and around the pond.
> The heron came straight down from a nearby tree and landed next to the
pond.
> Then stepped through the fishing line to the pond.
> So I put an electric fence around the pond with 4 wires. It came down and
> stepped through the fence. It jumped a bit but didn't stop.
> So I put 2 more wires on the fence. The heron came down and landed inside
> the fence. The fence is about 3 feet from the pond with shrubs and rocks.
> So I moved the fence right to the pond edge inside the shrubs etc. We'll
see
> what happens now.
> The heron just came back. Both of us were in the yard by the pond with two
> dogs there. It swooped over and landed on the roof of the house.
> Each time it got into the pond I raced out and clapped my hands to scare
it
> off. It just moved off to a nearby tree or roof and waited.
> It seemed to watch what I was doing.
> I thought it needed a large flight path to land. I know now that it does
> not. It came down almost vertically.
> There seems to be a pair of them. I don't know if it is the same one each
> time.
> Anyone got anymore hints. Apart from getting ride of my fish. Not that I
> have many left.
>
>

[dkat]

And I think it is more than tragic that God's creations are destroyed so
that "Man's" creation can be protected. Each day undeveloped land the size
of a small city is wiped out, pushing wildlife out of their feeding,
breeding, living space. Then we humans bitch and complain because they come
into "our" territory trying to survive. More extinctions are occurring now
then during the time of the mass extinction of dinosaurs. You seem to find
it amusing that a man shot and killed a defenseless skunk trapped in a cage.
That skunk would rid your yard of grubs, snails and slugs which you probably
are trying to get rid of using poisons that are ending up in our water table
contributing to the cancers that women and children are getting (they are at
greater risk than men). Personally I and most other people would rather
have a world filled with natural wonders and beauty than a K-mart imitation.

DKat

"Sam Hopkins" > wrote in message
.. .
> I was talking to my neighbor the other day. He told me he stuck out a trap
> for a raccoon the other night. He said the next morning he found he had
> caught a skunk. I laughed and said, "How'd you get him out, or did you
make
> your son do it?" He replied: "Oh I just shot it."
>
> Now I agree that you shouldn't go around blowing up herons or geese
because
> one happens by. But if one is destroying your pond and your fish you have
a
> right to take him out. People will sit there and protect a heron yet take
> their dog scruffy to the vet to be put down because they don't want him
> anymore.
>
> I think it's funny that people build ponds to be able to enjoy them and
see
> them and walk around them and yet when a heron starts destroying it they
put
> up electric fences and cover them with animal netting, put up water
cannons,
> etc because they are scared of the MBA.
>
> Now I saw a post of about using a paintball gun. I think that's a great
> idea. It probably won't kill the bird and you'll get some feeling of
> "Justice" but it's still illegal - You cant maim them.
>
> People think that herons are some "special" bird because it's protected by
> the MBA. Here's a few more:
>
> Barn-Owl
> Black-Bird
> Blue Bird
> Blue Jay
> Cardinal
> CROW - HOW ABOUT THAT ONE
> Dove
> Ducks
> Finch
> Goose
> Hawk
> Humming Bird
> Killdeer
> Robin
> SPARROW - WHAT THE HECK
> BARN SWALLOW
> TURKEY VULTURE
> Wood Peckers
>
> Crazy huh? Just shoot it - but don't get caught. =)
>
> Sam
>
> "K30a" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Sam,
> > I'm going to take you to task on this....
> > before we start posting lethal solutions regarding herons (or any other
> > critter) on the net I think we need to warn people of the legalities.
> Right or
> > wrong, fair or unfair.
> > There was a fellow in the next town over, a police chief, who shot the
> heron
> > eating up the goldfish in the town's pond. He was fined $5000 and lost
his
> job.
> > A major impact on this fellow's life and family. I just don't feel
> comfortable
> > letting your 'shoot them' posts go by without comment.
> > As for humane, you can't damage the bird in any way. Don't try to catch
> it, it
> > can severely damage you, and in one instant a heron drove his beak into
a
> > naturalist's head and killed him. Stringing fishing line along the
ground
> won't
> > wrap the bird up, electric shock fences shock, they don't kill. (been
> there,
> > done that several times, still alive)
> > Different states have different rules about mammals. Best to call them
or
> local
> > animal control.
> > Many of the ornamental ponders who come here live in suburbs and you
just
> > aren't allowed to blast away in your backyard.
> > Many pond keepers aren't up for killing an animal. There have to be
other
> > options and the lethal ones can be dangerous, illegal and downright
cruel.
> A
> > lot of us don't have the stomach for it.
> > If it comes to that I'd advise people to contact the professionals -
fish
> and
> > game, animal control, licensed trappers.
> >
> > Sam wrote
> > >>Man there's all kinds of things in the world today that are illegal
and
> we
> > break them all the time. You're not allowed to kill a raccoon or muskrat
> > either when it's not fur season but it happens all the time. If there's
an
> > animal destroying your property kill it or catch it and relocate it.
It's
> > more humane then wrapping fishing line around it or sending 50,000 volts
> > through it.<<
> >
> >
> > k30a
> > and the watergardening labradors
> > http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html
>
>

[dkat]

And that comment is a reflection of why I and my friends boycott your site.

"Jerrispond" > wrote in message
...
> >Unfortunately determined herons will land in the water and paddle around
> like>a
> >duck. Not a very good version of a duck but that doesn't seem to
> bother>them...
> >
>
> Shoot it.....you won't have any trouble after that Jerri
>
>

[Jerrispond]

>And that comment is a reflection of why I and my friends boycott your site.

If you have "boycotted" the site......why are you here? HELLO.....Jerri

http://www.fringeweb.com/Ponds/JerrisPond

[dkat]

said nothing about rec.ponds. Rec.ponds is a great news room. I was
talking about a business that I thought you ran... Once again... What's that
I hear about violins on TV!????

"Jerrispond" > wrote in message
...
> >And that comment is a reflection of why I and my friends boycott your
site.
>
> If you have "boycotted" the site......why are you here? HELLO.....Jerri
>
>
http://www.fringeweb.com/Ponds/JerrisPond

[Sam Hopkins]

MGA = Migratory bird act.

I live in the suburbs but own property in the not so far country. Just tell
the police the car backfired when they come. =)

Sam

"K30a" > wrote in message
...
> Sam wrote << He replied: "Oh I just shot it." >>
>
> Sam, you've got to live out in the country.
> Shoot the neighborhood skunk here and the police show up asap.
>
> >>because they are scared of the MBA<<
>
> What is a MBA?
>
>
>
>
>
> k30a
> and the watergardening labradors
> http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html

[Sam Hopkins]

Nah I dont find it amusing, I just wanted to point out that it's acceptable
in some parts of the US.

I agree that nature has to run it's own course, however if you feel your
heron is a problem - shoot it.

Sam

"dkat" > wrote in message
.net...
> And I think it is more than tragic that God's creations are destroyed so
> that "Man's" creation can be protected. Each day undeveloped land the
size
> of a small city is wiped out, pushing wildlife out of their feeding,
> breeding, living space. Then we humans bitch and complain because they
come
> into "our" territory trying to survive. More extinctions are occurring
now
> then during the time of the mass extinction of dinosaurs. You seem to
find
> it amusing that a man shot and killed a defenseless skunk trapped in a
cage.
> That skunk would rid your yard of grubs, snails and slugs which you
probably
> are trying to get rid of using poisons that are ending up in our water
table
> contributing to the cancers that women and children are getting (they are
at
> greater risk than men). Personally I and most other people would rather
> have a world filled with natural wonders and beauty than a K-mart
imitation.
>
> DKat
>
> "Sam Hopkins" > wrote in message
> .. .
> > I was talking to my neighbor the other day. He told me he stuck out a
trap
> > for a raccoon the other night. He said the next morning he found he had
> > caught a skunk. I laughed and said, "How'd you get him out, or did you
> make
> > your son do it?" He replied: "Oh I just shot it."
> >
> > Now I agree that you shouldn't go around blowing up herons or geese
> because
> > one happens by. But if one is destroying your pond and your fish you
have
> a
> > right to take him out. People will sit there and protect a heron yet
take
> > their dog scruffy to the vet to be put down because they don't want him
> > anymore.
> >
> > I think it's funny that people build ponds to be able to enjoy them and
> see
> > them and walk around them and yet when a heron starts destroying it they
> put
> > up electric fences and cover them with animal netting, put up water
> cannons,
> > etc because they are scared of the MBA.
> >
> > Now I saw a post of about using a paintball gun. I think that's a great
> > idea. It probably won't kill the bird and you'll get some feeling of
> > "Justice" but it's still illegal - You cant maim them.
> >
> > People think that herons are some "special" bird because it's protected
by
> > the MBA. Here's a few more:
> >
> > Barn-Owl
> > Black-Bird
> > Blue Bird
> > Blue Jay
> > Cardinal
> > CROW - HOW ABOUT THAT ONE
> > Dove
> > Ducks
> > Finch
> > Goose
> > Hawk
> > Humming Bird
> > Killdeer
> > Robin
> > SPARROW - WHAT THE HECK
> > BARN SWALLOW
> > TURKEY VULTURE
> > Wood Peckers
> >
> > Crazy huh? Just shoot it - but don't get caught. =)
> >
> > Sam
> >
> > "K30a" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > Sam,
> > > I'm going to take you to task on this....
> > > before we start posting lethal solutions regarding herons (or any
other
> > > critter) on the net I think we need to warn people of the legalities.
> > Right or
> > > wrong, fair or unfair.
> > > There was a fellow in the next town over, a police chief, who shot the
> > heron
> > > eating up the goldfish in the town's pond. He was fined $5000 and lost
> his
> > job.
> > > A major impact on this fellow's life and family. I just don't feel
> > comfortable
> > > letting your 'shoot them' posts go by without comment.
> > > As for humane, you can't damage the bird in any way. Don't try to
catch
> > it, it
> > > can severely damage you, and in one instant a heron drove his beak
into
> a
> > > naturalist's head and killed him. Stringing fishing line along the
> ground
> > won't
> > > wrap the bird up, electric shock fences shock, they don't kill. (been
> > there,
> > > done that several times, still alive)
> > > Different states have different rules about mammals. Best to call them
> or
> > local
> > > animal control.
> > > Many of the ornamental ponders who come here live in suburbs and you
> just
> > > aren't allowed to blast away in your backyard.
> > > Many pond keepers aren't up for killing an animal. There have to be
> other
> > > options and the lethal ones can be dangerous, illegal and downright
> cruel.
> > A
> > > lot of us don't have the stomach for it.
> > > If it comes to that I'd advise people to contact the professionals -
> fish
> > and
> > > game, animal control, licensed trappers.
> > >
> > > Sam wrote
> > > >>Man there's all kinds of things in the world today that are illegal
> and
> > we
> > > break them all the time. You're not allowed to kill a raccoon or
muskrat
> > > either when it's not fur season but it happens all the time. If
there's
> an
> > > animal destroying your property kill it or catch it and relocate it.
> It's
> > > more humane then wrapping fishing line around it or sending 50,000
volts
> > > through it.<<
> > >
> > >
> > > k30a
> > > and the watergardening labradors
> > > http://www.geocities.com/watergardeninglabradors/home.html
> >
> >
>
>

[D Kat]

What University? It sounds so lovely.... DK

"Cichlidiot" > wrote in message
...
> dkat > wrote:
> > knock on wood
>
> > We live near Long Island Sound and have quite a few herons in the area.
> > While kingfisher have successfully taken my fish, I have never been
bothered
> > by the herons (that I know of) even though we have seen them in the tree
> > above the pond salivating. My pond is ~2.5' deep and has absolutely no
> > slope to the sides. I have plastic baskets (like milk crates
rectangular
> > rather than square) which my plants sit on that have one edge raised up
so
> > that fish are able to nest inside. It could be just luck that the
herons
> > have not bothered my fish, that they have enough food locally that it
isn't
> > worth their bother (except a friend near by who has sloping sides has
lost
> > most of her fish), or it may be the characteristics of my pond that I
just
> > described.
>
> It probably is the fact your pond does not have slopping sides. At my
> undergrad university, there was a koi pond with a stream and waterfall.
> The koi pond proper had sides that went straight down, no slopes. The
> stream was so shallow that no adult goldfish or koi could really swim
> there. There was never a loss of goldfish or koi to anything other than
> humans (some people threw walking stones into the pond one night, fatally
> wounding the oldest koi). The things the herons, especially one green
> heron, would eat were the mosquito fish that were in the stream. Those
> reproduced quickly enough in the main pond to keep their population
> stable. The herons probably prevented the population from being totally
> out of control. When someone released several crawdaddies into the stream,
> those were quickly eaten by the herons too.